Links 0.62
==========

Supplies almost full soft links under RO3, semi functional under RO2
**** RO3 image filing system redirects all file operations via the link
**** 0.62 is a *prerelease* version of this. Precise bugs appreciated.
* Can be run to run or open or see the object that they point to
* alt-run: open app as dir or load file as text; ctrl-run: open parent dir;
* Can be created by ctrl-dragging an object

* Works well with !AutoRun to create a boot directory.

* Now with long names problems fixed, and open parent feature

* Now CHAINS the Alias$Copy variable if run AFTER another user of it (eg !SetDir)

* Now relative links

* Includes my bits module, incorporating all those
  annoying little 20 byte utilities that take up disc space,
  and starring Filer_RunAs so all those PC etc files can now load into !Edit

Details:

A Soft link on a disc is a pointer to an object stored elsewhere, set up
so that it behaves exactly like the object it is referring to. This is
much better than making a copy of the object, since it only uses up a
minute amount of disc space, and means that the same options stored within
the object will be accessable wherever it is run from. Unix has soft links
that redirect all file operations and directory searches, but !Links only
redirects Run operations.

To create a soft link, say of an application deep in some directory
structure that you nevertheless want to access from the root of your disk,
drag the application into the root with ctrl held down. An file with a
link icon will be created, containing the real path to the application. If
you double click on this icon, the original object will be run or opened.
Shift double clicking works to open application directories, but if you
have a program like ToEdit running which traps shift-opens to send stuff
to !edit, good timing is need to avoid opening the link itself in !Edit.
Because of this use alt instead, which will also open a file as if it were
text Change !Boot if you don't want this. Ctrl clicking is also now
available to open the parent directory of the object.

Issues:

Uses filetype FDC, which JRoach@acorn uses for nfs images of broken unix
soft links. Now stores the just text of <path> in the file, null terminated +lf,cr

WAS However, now actually stores the text "SoftLink <path>" in the
WAS file. This turns out to make running them much easier. (Just Obey.) It seems
WAS to result in trouble to use Wimp_TaskInit from within a Utility module, and
WAS then call Wimp_StartTask.


History:

0.50 Release
0.51 Copied NFS broken link icon as I like it better.
0.52 Removed "SoftLink" from start and added NULL at end of link name
     Ulch! Incompatibility? No - it should still work with old ones.
     This change made because I'm writing filesystems and filers that
     understand links, and I want to simplify things.
0.53 Made ctrl open parent, moved open app to alt.
0.54 Added bits module, removed input, aliasprogs, Filer_Run
0.55 Changed aliases to cope with long names by name switching
0.56 Added stuff to Chain Alias$Copy
0.57 Changed ctrl-alt to be run as text.
0.58 Added ctrl-shift drag as rename
0.59 merged ctrl-alt and alt onto just alt, using ifdir/iffile.
0.60 Added RO3 image fs and BASIC support code
0.61 Added support so shift can be used instead of alt if nothing grabs it.
0.62 Added relative links

Distribution:

This software may be freely redistributed, so long as only a reasonable
copying or media charge is made, and all files I distribute are included. I
retain copyright to the code. Commercial (including magazine) distribution,
or distributing modified versions of this please contact me - I am normally
happy for it to be reused in other free software, but like to avoid deviant
versions of mine causing trouble.

I am not asking for money, but if you like and use it I would be surprised
and amazed by any contributions, and you will receive a disc with latest
versions on. (>10, say)

Me:

Brian.Brunswick@cl.cam.ac.uk
0223 334419

At least till Sep 92:
Brian Brunswick
Trinity College
Cambridge
CB2 1TQ
UK
0223 351516

Brian Brunswick
Fairview
Avenue des Hirondelles
Pool-in-WharfeDale
Leeds
LS21 1EY
UK
0532 843737
